MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 19: People look at a Tesla Motors vehicle on the showroom floor at the Dadeland Mall on February 19, 2014 in Miami, Florida. Tesla said today it earned $46 million in the fourth quarter on a non-adjusted basis, or 33 cents a share, causing shares in the company to jump 12 percent. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 470945467 less

MIAMI, FL - FEBRUARY 19: People look at a Tesla Motors vehicle on the showroom floor at the Dadeland Mall on February 19, 2014 in Miami, Florida. Tesla said today it earned $46 million in the fourth quarter on ... more

Photo: Joe Raedle

Tesla revs up its superchargers

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Colonie

Tesla Motors, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based all-electric car maker, has installed six superchargers at a new station at Colonie Center.

That's about one charging station for each local resident who owns a Tesla. The luxury car retails for about $70,000.

Although the devices can only charge Teslas, they have created quite a buzz among local electric-vehicle enthusiasts.

Mike Kamm of Averill Park, who last year founded the Albany Capital District EV Drivers club and drives an all-electric Honda Fit, says he knows of just five people locally who own a Tesla.

"They'll be used mostly by people passing through, I would think," Kamm said.

The 120-kilowatt machines, which can provide a half-charge in 20 minutes, are the first to be installed in upstate New York. In 30 minutes, they can deliver enough power for a Tesla Model S to travel 170 miles, much quicker than home chargers.

Daniel Hayes of Schaghticoke, an author and teacher who owns a Tesla, says he has already used the supercharger at the mall.

"It was fantastic," Hayes said. "I ducked inside the mall to grab something to bring home, and by the time I got back to the car it was fully charged, probably in less than a half hour."

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Tesla is looking to install some chargers in central and western New York by the end of the year, according to a map on the company's website.

Colonie Center general manager Byron Marshall declined to reveal much about how the installation was funded.

"We have a direct arrangement with Tesla," Marshall said. He referred all other questions to the car maker.

Spokesman Patrick Jones wouldn't reveal how many people own Teslas locally or in the state, but said, "We are planning to open additional superchargers in the state, but have not yet disclosed what those locations will be," he said.

Tesla wrote on its blog three weeks ago that it has installed superchargers at 100 sites so far, most of them in North America. The car maker claims that the network allows Tesla owners to drive free now from Los Angeles to New York. The company is trying to ensure that Tesla drivers are never more than 100 miles from a supercharger.